After taking a break, we have a new release scheduled from Extasy Books early next year, so to celebrate we’re giving away autographed print books, one every month. This month it’s Cassie’s Hope, Book One in our horse racing series, Riders Up. Contest link after the excerpt:
Here’s a Sunday morsel for you:
EXCERPT
“You’ll do it then?” Her dad’s voice squeaked.
Guilt, excitement and fear washed over Cassie in such quick succession that she couldn’t sort them out. Was she yielding? Hell, it’d been a done deal before she’d left Hope in her paddock. “Yes, I’ll try. Six months. No more. She is a very promising filly. I still don’t know how we can afford to do this.”
“We can afford it.” Tug’s eyes twinkled. “I got somethin’ else to tell you. Didn’t wanna till after you made up your mind. Didn’t wanna influence you too much…I’ve agreed to sell eighty acres to Mr. Dillingham, who’s been after that land for the last five years. After taxes and everybody’s fees, we should net a little over a million dollars.” Nodding softly, he said, “For once, I think we can afford to chase this dream.”
“Holy shit!” Cassie shrieked. “You did what? Why now?”
“There’s plenty of farm left for horses. Thought maybe I’ve been too stubborn for my own good. This may be my last chance, Cass. Holdin’ on to land is an important principle. But bein’ land poor probably don’t make much sense either. It’s yours, you know. I’m just gonna share some of it with you for awhile.”
“Oh, Daddy.” She bent down and kissed him on the cheek. “I don’t know what to say! We could go out and buy contenders. Horses that could be competitive stakes runners right away.”
“I know that.”
She saw a quick flash of that familiar stubborn streak set deep in his cat-gray eyes.
“Nope. The key is to raise a big horse—not just buy it. Any rich fool can buy into a good racehorse. That’s what baseball owners do when they ignore their farm teams. It takes skill to raise a contender.”
BLURB
What happens when a fiercely loyal widowed half-Ute cowboy meets a fiery redhead with an Irish temper to match? Cassidy O’Hanlon – Cassie, to her friends – has set aside her Chicago career for six months to train racehorses for her dad after his stroke.
Furious the interloper has shipped in a ringer from the Chicago circuit to his Wyoming turf, Rancher/trainer Clint Travers sets out to put her in her place. Sparks fly immediately, but after their rocky start, the two quickly forge a passionate relationship, and he follows her to Chicago.
When it becomes clear someone is drugging Cassie’s horse, Clint sets out to solve the mystery, but storms off in a cloud of wounded pride when suspicions turn to him.
Can love trump pride?
Five Stars at Goodreads: “…I took their journey with them. I felt their pain, their sadness, their struggles, and most of all their love. And that is the mark of a truly good book.” Faith, Goodreads
BUY LINK
Cassie’s Hope is available at Amazon in ebook and print. It’s always free to read at Kindle Unlimited.
You brought me right into this family’s life. Well done
Thanks so much, Charmaine!
He’s very stubborn and set in his ways, isn’t he? I enjoyed the snippet but I have the feeling things are going too smoothly so far…the key is to keep reading LOL! Well done!
Good thinking! Yes, not so smoothly…
It sounds rather like he’s betting the farm, literally, on this young horse. High stakes indeed!
LOL – hadn’t thought of it that way! But only part of the farm 🙂
Exciting snippet! I hope they get their dream!
Thanks, Kate – our characters have a tendency to dream big 🙂
I’m not entirely sure she’s on board with the idea of him selling part of his land. And why only six months?
Good question – she’s left the farm, got a degree, and has a job she loves in Chicago. But she promises him six months because he’s just had a stroke, and that’s long enough to get the horse to a stakes race in the fall. When she plans to go back to work, but as we know, the best laid plans…
I agree with her dad – releasing money from the land will enable them to pursue their dreams. As a someone who’s had and bred horses all my adult life albeit in a small way, I agree that anyone can go out and buy a good horse – raising one from scratch as it were puts it on a whole new level.
Sweet! Love hearing from another horse lover/horse owner! That’s exactly what matters to Tug – hopefully it will matter as much to Cassie 🙂
Big dreams cost money. But are they doing the right thing selling land to achieve that dream? I’d read more to find out.